Sunday, June 16, 2013

Very Long Day - Sun., June 16

Our day started early with a 6.1 mile hike at Dwight D. Eisenhower Park in northwest San Antonio. The hike start time was 7:45 a.m. to allow us to walk during the "cooler" part of the day. That meant we were up at 5:30 a.m. to get ready. Ugh.

After bowls of oatmeal with blueberries, cinnamon, nutmeg and ground flaxseed, we drove to the park and met the group a few minutes before hike time. We start on time. Today's pace was just right and allowed some picture taking stops, even though I had to run to keep up after I took the photos.

Once again, we were hiking with the San Antonio Hill Country Hikers meetup group and Paul was our leader. He set a reasonable pace and we kept up pretty well until the steep rocky section. That slows me down quite a bit and I stop to breathe. Eventually I catch up again. Bob stays with me.

The tower at the top of the hill was a good stop. Climbing to the top of the tower rewards you with a cooling-effect breeze. Because of the recent rains, more wildflowers bloomed in the past week and they are gorgeous.

Start - everyone's fresh and perky.

Blue morning glory (Ipomoea indica).

Maximilian sunflower (Helianthus maximiliani)

Powering up the steep part of the hill.

Lookout!

Dayflower (Commelina erecta)

Dayflowers with Englemann daisy (Engelmannia pinnatifida).

Rest stop.

Dwarf cinquefoil (Potentilla canadensis)

Still trying to identify these flowers.

Field of dayflowers.

Purple horsemint (Monarda Citriodora)

I was lagging farther behind.

We opted to hike two loops with the group. Paul stopped at the parking lot after we completed one loop. Some people had other obligations for Father's Day so they left.

The rest of us geared up for Round 2 and off we went, taking a different trail this time. There were a couple of steep, rocky hills and those combined with the heat did me in. By the time we were to the top I wasn't feeling too well. I rested more and we continued to try to catch up with the group. We finally found them back at the parking lot. Thank you, Paul and Jake, for another great hike.